Ties to the West Blue

Nangong Yan took a pure white cigarette from his coat. A wisp of flame rose from his middle finger. He took a deep drag, then exhaled two ruler-straight streams of smoke through his mouth and nose.

From his lofty vantage point, countless black specks entered Nangong Yan's sight. His expression remained indifferent as the Mangekyo Sharingan emerged in his eyes, and his body vanished into a spatial vortex.

By the time the pirates with their own agendas, the Marines, and the World Government's intelligence agents arrived, Nangong Yan and Golden Lion had long since disappeared without a trace.

After returning to Fragrant Rice Island, Nangong Yan ordered the island's cooks to prepare a lavish feast and deliver it to his courtyard. He took out several bottles of fine wine and immersed himself in good food and drink.

After fighting for so long, he desperately needed to replenish his strength. As Nangong Yan sat in his chair, eating heartily, a question suddenly came to mind.

Even the cooks Pike had recruited at random on the island were quite skilled. Just how good were the dishes made by those famous chefs from the original story?

Thinking of that, Nangong Yan could not help recalling his days with the Cook Pirates. Everyone there knew how to cook, especially Zeff, their captain. His food had been unbelievably delicious.

Now that his circumstances were improving, Nangong Yan wanted an even better life. Every meal should come with delicious food and fine wine, preferably with a woman he liked by his side. That would be a truly wonderful life!

There was no rushing matters involving women. Although there was some ambiguity between him and Momousagi, their opposing positions left their future uncertain.

If Momousagi truly liked him, he would not mind storming Marine Headquarters and taking her by force! He had a fairly good impression of her.

As for Galette, the only woman he had slept with so far, their relationship was more like that of lovers or sex partners. In any case, Galette had never clearly expressed a desire to follow him.

Thinking it over, the only woman Nangong Yan was sure he liked was Nico Robin.

At the thought of Robin, Nangong Yan was instantly invigorated, no longer even in the mood to eat.

According to Nangong Yan's memories, Robin should have already been born and ought to be three or four years old by now.

Nangong Yan did not know the precise details of the Ohara incident. He only knew that Sengoku, who had handled the matter, seemed to have been promoted to Fleet Admiral afterward, while Aokiji, Akainu, and Kizaru later became Admirals.

Nangong Yan did not want Robin to live the lonely life of an orphan, constantly hiding from place to place.

As for those archaeologists of Ohara, Nangong Yan felt no sympathy for them. They had brought it upon themselves!

Without sufficient strength, they had actually dared to pry into the century of history the World Government had gone to such lengths to conceal. Did they really think the World Government was a charity that would not get angry?

Nangong Yan himself had no interest in the truth hidden by the World Government. The victors became kings and the losers became bandits, that was all. No matter what methods the current World Government had used, they were the victors, and that was enough!

Nangong Yan could not be bothered to spend effort protecting those idiotic archaeologists of Ohara whose minds contained nothing but archaeology. Saving them would only bring trouble and serve no purpose. Besides, he had no interest in the history of the Void Century.

The only person he wanted to save was Robin, with Robin's mother added at most—his future mother-in-law, Nico Olvia. Oh, right. Nangong Yan was also somewhat interested in the Tree of Knowledge, the world's largest library. Knowledge was useful in any world.

"Someone, go call Lafitte over. I have something to instruct him about," Nangong Yan shouted toward the courtyard gate.

"Yes, Captain." A response came from outside, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.

Very soon, Lafitte arrived in Nangong Yan's courtyard. Standing respectfully beside him, he said, "Captain, I'm here. What are your orders?"

Lafitte had also watched Nangong Yan's battle with Golden Lion from afar. His respect and reverence for Nangong Yan had only grown deeper.

"Fitte, no need for so much formality. There's no need for that. Relax a little, sit down and eat with me. We can talk while we eat." After putting a large piece of bright red beef covered in chilies into his mouth, Nangong Yan gestured to him.

Back on Earth, Nangong Yan had been from Sichuan, one of China's provinces most capable of handling spicy food. He could not live without chilies.

"Thank you, Captain." Lafitte thanked him and sat down without ceremony. Having followed Nangong Yan for some time, he understood his temperament somewhat.

When Nangong Yan told someone to sit down and eat, he meant it. There was no hidden meaning and no empty politeness. One simply sat down and ate.

"Take some men back to the West Blue as soon as possible. Keep Ohara under close surveillance, and look into an archaeologist named Nico Olvia."

"Do it secretly. Don't alert anyone, understand?"

"Understood, Captain. I'll set out with men shortly."

Nangong Yan nodded. Picking up the wine bottle, he refilled Lafitte's glass and said, "That island of Ohara is secretly investigating the history of the Void Century."

"How laughable. They think the World Government will not discover them, and even believe that if it does, it will not do anything to a group of scholars too weak to truss a chicken."

"The seeds of disaster have already been planted. Ohara will likely be wiped off the map before long."

"I have no interest in those scholars, nor do I intend to save them."

"I am only interested in Nico Olvia and her daughter, Nico Robin. Oh, and the Tree of Knowledge, that so-called largest library in the world."

"When the World Government moves against Ohara, I intend to save those two and empty out the Tree of Knowledge while I'm at it."

"That is why intelligence is so important. It must be accurate. Ideally, we should learn of the Marines' internal movements in advance, so I can set out before them and ensure nothing goes wrong."

"I understand, Captain. Please rest assured, I will complete this mission excellently." Lafitte drank the wine Nangong Yan had poured for him, his confidence brimming.

This was the first mission Nangong Yan had given him, so naturally he had to complete it perfectly. He had great confidence in his own abilities.

"Oh, there's one more thing. Before you leave, have someone notify Pike. Tell him to keep an eye out for famous chefs around the world, regardless of age or gender."

"I think the Demon Emperor Pirates' meals could still be improved. If the brothers eat their fill and eat well, their efficiency will be higher too."

"Everything the Captain says is right. I'll notify Pike shortly."

"Zehahahaha... You brat have learned how to flatter people now. But I like it."

Half an hour later, Lafitte left Nangong Yan's courtyard to handle his business. After Nangong Yan had eaten and drunk his fill, he quietly began reviewing the gains and losses from his battle with Golden Lion.

Nangong Yan planned to remain on Fragrant Rice Island for half a month. Once he had fully absorbed, analyzed, and understood his battle with Golden Lion, he would go recruit new crew members.

Nangong Yan had already picked out his next crew member. His target was the North Blue!

While Nangong Yan stayed on Fragrant Rice Island, news about him once again swept the world, widely reporting the course of his battle with Golden Lion.

His battles against Big Mom and Golden Lion had completely established Nangong Yan's status. He had now become a rising star of the New World, and the Demon Emperor Pirates had gained a firm foothold there. Quite a few pirates came to pledge their allegiance.

Although the pirates who came to join varied greatly in quality, they were still a respectable fighting force. They were stronger than the pirates of the New World during the Great Pirate Era, and vastly stronger than the pirates of the Four Blues.

Naturally, this news left the Marines and the World Government in a terrible mood. A pirate who had dared threaten the World Government was not only still at large, but was doing better and better. It would have been strange if they felt good about it...

At a bay in Marine Headquarters' Marineford, the tall, well-proportioned Momousagi tossed the newspaper in her hand aside and leaped into the sea. She trained even harder, enormous and sharp pale-blue sword energies crisscrossing and carving through the seabed, churning the ocean!

"Nangong Yan, once I catch you, I'll teach you a proper lesson! Not just physically, but mentally as well. I will make you turn from evil and return to the right path!"

At the thought of this, fresh strength seemed to surge into Momousagi's already sore arms, and she swung Kompira through the sea with even greater force...